This section includes several major subsections. The first subsection contains the purpose statement, the second subsection includes discussion of the role of the researcher, and the third subsection includes discussion of the participants of the study. The fourth subsection contains information related to the research method and design. The fifth subsection contains a description of the study population, sample, and sampling method. The sixth subsection contains information related to ethical considerations. The
remainder of the section contains a detailed discussion of the data collection and data organization and analysis techniques used. This section also includes a subsection on reliability and validity.
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore how business leaders used a social media policy to support employee productivity. The target
population were finance technology leaders at two financial companies in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is a financial hub with 20 large financial companies and a greater number of midsize companies; each of the midsize companies had four or five leaders in finance. Finance technology leaders are well situated to understand how new technology affects their business organizations and how leaders have used an effective social media policy. The implications for positive social change include the potential to affect positive changes in employee community connectedness and bonding.
Role of the Researcher
Researchers define the research problem and its scope (Moon, 2015). The investigator’s subjective experience forms the basis for these decisions. The
investigator’s norms and biases may not be readily apparent to the reader (Moon, 2015). Moon observed that researchers must make themselves transparent to the reader by providing background information and locating themselves in the research (Thomas, 2015). Yin (2014) noted several responsibilities of the researcher; these were: (a) set the parameters of the study, (b) collect the data, (c) present the data, and (d) analyze the data (Yin, 2014). My role in the study, as the researcher, was to (a) set the parameters of the study, (b) collect the data, (c) present the data, and (d) analyze the data.
I am familiar with the topic of this study because of my work history in the finance industry and use of social media. However, researchers must collect data in a responsible and ethical manner (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). To mitigate bias, the study participants will not include people who work for my current employer. Thus, I will avoid the problem of backyard research (Thomas, 2015).
The Belmont Report is a protocol for conducting human research in an ethical fashion (National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research, 1979). The Belmont Report includes protections for vulnerable people such as those with mental challenges and disabilities. I followed the Belmont Report to protect participants and did not interview any vulnerable participants. A researcher can use purposive sampling to ensure that vulnerable people are not
to select participants. The risk of harm to the participants was small because the study design included steps to ensure participant anonymity.
The study design included an interview protocol from a similar study Thomas conducted in 2015. The interview questions contained in the protocol are in Appendix A. Thomas’s study was similar to this study in several ways including topics of engagement, social media, and information technology. Permission to use and modify the interview protocol is included in Appendix B. The interview protocol is valuable for describing experiences in depth and when researching the how and why of phenomena (Kahlke, 2014; Thomas, 2015). Interviews are appropriate for qualitative case studies (Stake, 2006; Yin, 2014). Researchers use an interview protocol to ensure trustworthiness and consistency in the data collection process (Kumar, Osborne, & Lehmann, 2015). The study design includes the interview protocol to ensure an in-depth exploration of the how and why of the RQ: How do finance industry business leaders in Charlotte, North
Carolina, use a social media policy to support employee productivity?
My history includes my current position as a technology expert in a financial corporation, which may allow me to provide valuable insights. However, my personal biases could have influenced the findings and made the analysis incomplete or inaccurate. Researchers may view a qualitative exploration of the research question subjectively because of their subjective experiences, so the researcher must exercise due care to avoid personal bias (Cope, 2014). Yin (2014) recommends that the researcher be sensitive to contrary evidence. To mitigate bias, I remained open to all data collected from the study participants, especially contrary evidence, and kept my personal views of social media
policy separate from participants’ reactions and opinions. One method of avoiding bias is to provide rich quotes from the study participants (Cope, 2014). I used rich quotes from the participants in the study research findings. I also followed the study design interview protocols strictly and conducted member checking.
Participants
To be eligible to participate in the study, individuals had to be executives in the finance industry in Charlotte, North Carolina. I relied on personal connections in the finance industry to gain access to this population, particularly executives such as chief information officers, chief technology officers, and technical executives. The leaders I contacted gave me contact information for people who would be appropriate participants in this study. In addition, the participants had to supervise two or more employees. Earlier studies required participants to have knowledge of social media policy in their firms (Akaeze, 2016; Thomas, 2015). The study design included selecting participants based on their knowledge of social media policy.
To establish a working relationship with the participants the study protocol included discussing the purpose of the study, the informed consent form, and the
interview protocol. In this study, I discussed the purpose of the study, informed consent, and the interview protocol immediately before the semistructured interview. When establishing a working relationship with participants, a researcher should have frank discussions of prejudices and roles to foster collaboration (Bindels, Baur, Cox, Heijing, & Abma, 2014). Establishing an effective working relationship with participants in a
communication (Akaeze, 2016; Thomas, 2015; Turnage & Goodboy, 2014). I established a working relationship with participants through frank, consistent communication through multiple channels.
Research Method and Design
The research method and design are critical to conducting reliable research
(Sheppard, 2016; Yin, 2014). The researcher must choose both the method and the design to answer the research question (Borrego et al., 2014; Breunig, 2016; Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). The correct research design will contain the right options for realizing the research method (Sheppard, 2016).
Research Method
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how business leaders use social media policy to enable productivity. Productivity is critical to business leaders, but substantive research to assist leaders in using social media policy is lacking. To
understand how leaders have used an effective social media policy, I chose a qualitative method and an exploratory multiple case study design.
The plan for the study was to use qualitative research to explore the how and the why of phenomena, such as the means leaders use to craft an effective social media policy. Quantitative and qualitative methodologies involve different approaches because they have researchers using them have different goals (Barnham, 2015). Using a
qualitative design allowed participants to describe their understanding of the phenomena in their words (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Qualitative research is valuable for describing phenomena and experiences in depth (Kahlke, 2014; Thomas, 2015). Using a qualitative
research design was critical in supporting the research question of how and why leaders use social media policy.
Qualitative research was appropriate for the study because qualitative research explores the how and why of phenomena whereas quantitative research seeks to find relationships between variables. Quantitative methods of research do not support in-depth descriptions of the how and why (Kahlke, 2014; Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). A researcher uses quantitative research method as appropriate for the resolution of hypotheses when researchers use numeric data to discover correlations between variables (Barnham, 2015). However, this study did not contain hypotheses or variables; rather, the study involved exploring how leaders might use social media policy to enable productivity among workers.
I chose not to use the mixed-method for the study. Mixed methods studies contain both quantitative and qualitative features in the same research project (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Quantitative features can support case study research when such research contains hypotheses (Alsurehi & Youbi, 2014). However, there were no hypotheses in the study, and the research question contained no dependent or independent variables.
Therefore, using mixed method research was inappropriate for the study. My intent for the study was to explore how leaders successfully used employee social media policy to support employee productivity in the finance industry in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thus, neither mixed-methods design nor only quantitative design was fitting for the study. The qualitative research method alone was a suitable data collection tool.
Research Design
I chose a qualitative method and a multiple case study design to conduct research. A researcher chooses the research design to answer the research question (Borrego et al., 2014; Breunig, 2016; Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Researchers use case studies when they need a deep understanding of social and organization processes (Stake, 2006; Thomas, 2015). Furthermore, results from case studies are often transferable to theory (Tsang, 2013). In addition, case study results may be better than quantitative studies for falsifying hypotheses (Tsang, 2013). A multiple case study is useful to researchers when they are studying specific phenomena in multiple settings, thereby gaining additional
understanding of the how and why of those phenomena (Stake, 2006). In addition, a case study approach is appropriate for work settings (Akaeze, 2016; Breunig, 2016; Davison et al., 2014; Stake, 2006; Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Thus, the case study approach is appropriate for the study of how finance technology leaders use social media policy to gain productivity. Furthermore, Tsang (2013) stated that multiple case studies produce strong generalization for theories since researchers can discover idiosyncrasies of a single case. Thus, I considered a multiple case study the best option for a research design for the study.
Many researchers found case studies appropriate for studying social media. Breunig (2016) found the case study design appropriate for exploring social network communities. The study contained an exploration of the use of social networks for productivity purposes. In addition, Davison et al. (2014) used a multiple case study design to study the use of Web 2.0 technologies, such as social media, in the workplace.
Akaeze (2016) used a multiple case study to explore sustainability for small businesses. Thomas (2015) studied strategies for retaining information technology professionals using a case study design.
Case studies are common for research design in business because the case study design requires that the researcher analyze the business process (Akaeze, 2016; Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Therefore, a multiple case study design is appropriate for the study to determine how business leaders use social media policy. However, qualitative researchers also conduct research with other designs (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Qualitative
researchers might also conduct research through an ethnographic design or a phenomenological approach.
Ethnographic researchers study humans, artifacts, and concepts in the cultural or ethnographic environment in which they occur (Jensen, 2015; Thomas, 2015). This research design requires researchers to embed themselves over a long period to understand the culture fully that they are studying (Jensen, 2015). Additionally, the researcher should approach the problem without prior conceptions and values that may interfere with understanding different worldviews (Jensen, 2015; Thomas, 2015). Ethnographic researchers seek to understand the behavior of cultures (Jensen, 2015; Thomas, 2015). Thus, an ethnographic research design was inappropriate for answering how business leaders use social media policy to enhance productivity.
Researchers engaging in phenomenological research seek to understand and analyze the lived experience of participants (Finlay, 2014). Researchers reflect on lived experiences and may uncover themes that challenge earlier assumptions (Finlay, 2014;
Thomas, 2015). However, the research question of this study was in regard to the use of social media policy for business leaders seeking to enhance productivity rather than lived experiences. Therefore, phenomenology was an inappropriate choice for the study.
For researchers using case study design, saturation is a requirement to support validity (Yin, 2014). Achieving saturation helps researchers avoid bias in research (Thomas, 2015). The researcher must keep doing interviews until the researcher gains no new information, discovers no new themes, and documents enough information to
replicate the study (Thomas, 2015). The study design included conducting semistructured interviews and collecting data until no new ideas appeared to achieve saturation.
Population and Sampling
This section contains a definition of the study population, the sampling technique, and data saturation. The participants for the study were senior finance technology leaders within the finance industry in metropolitan Charlotte, North Carolina. The study design includes interviewing up to six participants. When designing qualitative sampling, the researcher determines the universe of possible participants and subsequently chooses a sample size taking into account what is ideal and what is practical (Robinson, 2014). Because researchers collect data from many sources in a case study, smaller sample size is justified (Kahlke, 2014; Stake, 2006; Yin, 2014). The number of participants was appropriate because people with knowledge to answer the research question are few within each organization. Senior technology leaders at two financial institutions were appropriate participants based on their deep understanding and success at using social media policies to promote productivity. Senior leaders in information technology include
positions such as (a) chief information officer, (b) chief technology officer, (c)
technology executive, (d) senior vice president, (e) managing director, and (f) director (Thomas, 2015). The participants came from two medium-sized companies in the financial industry in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eligible participants must satisfy the following criteria for inclusion in the study.
• They must currently hold a senior information technology leadership position.
• They must work at least 50% of their job in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• They must supervise two or more employees.
The sampling technique for the study is snowball sampling. Stake (2006) and Thomas (2015) found snowball sampling appropriate for the case study design; snowball sampling occurs if the researcher asks initial participants for contacts to other potential participants for the study. The study design includes selecting participants using snowball sampling since finance technology leaders in the organization will know the other leaders involved in setting social media policy. Snowball sampling is a type of purposeful
sampling; this sampling is the best method for gaining insight into the detail of how and why phenomena happen (Thomas, 2015). Since the research question was answering the how and why of the phenomena of how business leaders use social media policy to enable productivity, purposeful sampling was appropriate. The study design included selecting participants through nonprobabilistic, snowball sampling.
The study design contains several methods for achieving data saturation. In addition to interviews, case study researchers rely on other data such as documents, participant observations, and direct observations (Kahlke, 2014; Yin, 2014). The study
design includes using semistructured interviews to elicit in-depth information for each case. Additionally, the researcher collects data outside of the interviews to support triangulation for each instance (Kahlke, 2014; Yin, 2014). Because researchers collect data from many sources, smaller sample size was justified (Kahlke, 2014; Stake, 2006; Yin, 2014). Thomas (2015) agreed that snowball sampling (also called chain-referral sampling) is a type of purposeful sampling, is appropriate for case studies when researchers need to understand participant’s perspectives in depth.
The study design includes achieving data saturation by conducting three
interviews at each location for a total of six at two sites. However, saturation determines sample size (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2015). The researcher must keep doing interviews until the researcher gains no new information, discovers no new themes, and documents enough information to replicate the study (Thomas, 2015). Thus, if I had not reached data saturation after six interviews, the plan was to continue to do more interviews until I reached saturation. In this study, I reached data saturation in company A in four
interviews, and in company B in five interviews. Once case study researchers identify a population for the interviews, it is important for validity that the researcher conducts the interviews properly. In the study, I continued interviews until no new information or themes appeared.
Several factors are important to conducting reliable interviews, and those factors should be contained in an interview protocol. Interview participants should have a comfortable setting at their time and convenience (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). The plan was to ask the interview participants to select a comfortable setting at their time and
convenience. A comfortable, nonthreatening venue for interviews is important because the participant must feel comfortable answering openly about ambiguous and complex topics (Hashim, 2015; Yin, 2014). Several researchers have recorded interviews to make certain that the researcher can make an accurate analysis (Davison et al., 2014; Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). Therefore, the study plan was to record the interviews electronically if the participant was comfortable with the device and remained so throughout the
interview; I recorded all the interviews. Recording an interview is not a substitute for close listening and paying attention to detail (Yin, 2014). The plan was to member check the interview recordings and protect them in the same manner as other data used to support the study. Protecting participant data was a key to ethical research.
Ethical Research
I followed professionally accepted practices for conducting ethical research. The first requirement was to seek approval of the Walden University institutional review board (IRB) before beginning research to protect the research participants. The IRB reviews research proposals to protect participant’s rights (Akaeze, 2016; Sheppard, 2016). The final doctoral manuscript included the Walden IRB approval number 04-06- 17-0332976. Yin (2014) identified several factors contributing to ethical research including (a) informed consent, (b) avoiding deception, (c) protecting privacy and confidentiality, (d) protecting vulnerable groups, and (e) selecting participants equitably. I did these things and followed the practices outlined below.
A critical aspect of ethical research and informed consent is to allow participants to withdraw at any time (Akaeze, 2016; Sheppard, 2016). Within the informed consent
form, participants will read how to withdraw from the study; participants may withdraw at any time without penalty through e-mail or phone request. Voluntary participation is important to ethical research (Sheppard, 2016). Therefore, I explained informed consent verbally to validate that the participant had fully understood participation in the study. The informed consent form includes my name, telephone number, and e-mail address so participants can request to withdraw. If the participant chose to withdraw, I destroyed all transcripts, paraphrasing, and data from the interview permanently; no participants withdrew.
The IRB exists to ensure that researchers treat study participants ethically (Akaeze, 2016). Recent doctoral studies have not included any monetary compensation for interview participants because of ethical considerations (Akaeze, 2016; Sheppard, 2016, Thomas, 2015). Therefore, the participants of the study received neither
extravagant compensation nor monetary compensation.
A researcher should do their best to eliminate risks to the participants by providing ethical protection (Thomas, 2015; Yin, 2014). There were no known
psychological, social, legal, economic, professional, or physical risks foreseen for this interview. The case study design may include collecting other data, such as pertinent company documents (Yin, 2014). The research design includes following any rule the community partner has for sharing information in these documents. Confidentiality is often important for both the people and the organizations participating in a study (Sheppard, 2016). Therefore, the identities of people and organizations were
undocumented in the study. I only shared the participant’s data with my review committee as directed by Walden University faculty, and no one else.
Walden University requires the researcher to provide informed consent to participants. The study design includes several actions to ensure the safety of the study participants. First, provide the participants with contact information on the informed consent form and inform the participants they can request summary data upon request. Second, transcribe the e-mail addresses to an Excel spreadsheet and store them in an encrypted zip file on my home machine. Third, control completed interviews at all times during data collection and store securely in my residence for 5 years.